Stow-Munroe Falls school board shelves superintendent vote until board vacancy is filled
The Stow-Munroe Falls school board has decided to pause its vote on a new superintendent until a new school board member is appointed. The board had previously said it would go forward with a vote despite the abrupt resignation of one of the board members late last month.
"We began this process in February, planning every stage together during a public Board meeting, and have continued to work diligently on the search up to this moment," said Pamela Wind, the board vice president, in a media release sent Thursday evening. "This is not an easy decision, nor is it being hastily made."
Jon Leissler, who resigned from the school board April 29, said in his resignation letter he wanted to focus more on family and his career.
"My commitments have become increasingly time-consuming, and over the past several months, it has been difficult for me to manage board of education time and responsibilities with family and also my professional work," Leissler said in the letter. "I want you to know that my departure is not directly related to any specific person on the Board but simply due to my need to make my extremely strenuous schedule slightly less demanding to allow more time for family with the ever-expanding responsibilities in my professional career."
Leissler was listed in the primary election as the Republican candidate for the 28th District Ohio Senate Race. It is unclear if he still plans to run for this seat. The Democratic candidate for this position is Hudson resident Casey Weinstein, the current 34th District Ohio House representative.
On May 6, the school board had been prepared to vote on hiring Felisha Gould, the current assistant superintendent with the Cleveland Heights-University Heights School District, as the district's new leader. The agenda was revised, however, to remove the vote on the next superintendent and the contract for that position before the meeting.
The other finalist for the position is Kristen Prough, who has served as interim superintendent since Tom Bratten left the top administrative role at the beginning of the school year.
The decision to vote on Gould rather than Prough has been met with mixed reactions on social media.
School board member Mike Sheehan voiced his support for Prough at the May 6 school board meeting, saying she has the support of the community as well as the teachers and staff.
"She's a good leader, she is qualified, she is willing to take on any challenge, she is willing to problems head-on, she has been acting as superintendent for five years with one arm tied behind her back and has shown her support to the school and staff."
His statement was met with cheers from the people attending the meeting.
The Stow-Munroe Falls City Schools Board of has scheduled walk-in interviews for those who want to fill Leissler's unexpired term, which runs through Dec. 31, 2025. One round of interviews took place Thursday, and more interviews will be conducted May 22 at Central Office, 4350 Allen Road. Applicants must bring four copies of their resume, along with a cover letter explaining their desire to serve on the Board of Education, their priorities and relevant qualifications.
The board will begin its meeting at 6 p.m., and interviews will be conducted in executive session. Each candidate will be interviewed separately. Interested persons must arrive between 5:45 and 7 p.m. Interviews will be conducted in the order of arrival. No preregistration is required.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old, registered to vote and residents of Stow or Munroe Falls.
For details, contact Treasurer Patrick Goclano at st_pgoclano@smfcsd.org.
Reporter April Helms can be reached at ahelms@thebeaconjournal.com
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Stow-Munroe Falls superintendent vote postponed
